Engine check light on and cruise control not working, but speedometer works
Engine check light on and cruise control not working, but speedometer works. P0717 is the error code I got, my question is: if the sensor is bad then the speedometer also should not work. What else could be the problem?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there, thanks for writing in. Usually the P0717 OBD-II error code is associated with a speed sensor problem inside the transmission. This part helps to monitor the cruise control along with the speedometer. If the sensor is damaged or has a loose fitting wire harness, it will disable the cruise control first as a safety measure; but allow the speedometer to work in many cases. The best way to know for sure is to contact one of our mechanics to replace your speed sensor, or inspect the vehicle for cruise control issues.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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If the speed sensor stops functioning properly, the cruise control will stop working. You might also notice some other common symptoms with your vehicle. These include speedometer malfunction, a transmission that is rough when changing gears, and the check engine icon periodically lighting up.
When the check engine light does come on the cruise control light will blink indicating that the cruise control has been disabled and the vehicle`s dynamic stability control light will come on indicating that it also has been disabled.
The most common reasons a Toyota Corolla cruise control isn`t working are failed control module, sensor or switch issues, or throttle actuation problems. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
A blown fuse is the simplest to explain. If the fuse of your cruise control is bad, the cruise control won`t work. If the speed sensor or speedometer isn`t working, the cruise control won`t work either, since this feature is partially responsible for making the cruise control function properly.
The speed sensor is the part of the system that determines how fast a car is traveling. Since cruise control requires a precise speed reading, cruise control will not work correctly if the speed sensor is impaired.
The systems of a car are highly interconnected, which means that a seemingly insignificant issue can be an early warning sign for a bigger problem that you shouldn`t ignore. In the case of a faulty cruise control system, it can point to issues with acceleration or even your engine.
Cruise Control in Newer Cars with Drive-By-Wire Throttle
The ECM is responsible for controlling the throttle body to accelerate or decelerate. Once you set your preferred speed, the ECU grabs that and sorts it out with the ECM and just like that, your car drives at your preferred speed.
An issue with the wiring can cause your vehicle to think that the brake pedal is engaged when in actuality, it is not. This will make your car unable to engage cruise control. Lastly, your cruise control may become inaccessible if a cable, hose or vacuum actuator in your car gets damaged.
A radar sensor is installed on the car`s front grille, which can sense how close or far away the vehicle in front is. By sensing this distance, the car will “adapt” its cruise control speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
You can easily find out where your cruise control fuse is and what it`s called in your owner`s manual. But most often, you`ll find the cruise control fuse box under the dashboard on the driver`s side.
The cruise control system will be reset to the speed you are travelling when you release the knob. For a quick reset, accelerate with the accelerator pedal to the desired speed, then press and release the “SET/COAST” button.
Note that a weak battery can randomly knock other features offline, too, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and many more.
The national average cost for a cruise control module replacement in 2023 is $3107.
Which of the following is an example of a failure in a car cruise control system? The system stops maintaining a set speed when the radio volume is incresed or decreased.
Such systems are made up of a cable connecting the throttle to a part called the vacuum actuator, which adjusts the cable based on the cruise control setting. A vacuum leak is a common problem on such systems, but damage to either of these components can cause the cruise control to stop working.
Can you install cruise control in a car? Well, the answer is yes as well as no. There are aftermarket cruise control kits available for old cars that don`t rely on an ECU to control the engine. However, the system doesn`t work as smoothly as it does on modern cars that come factory-fitted with it.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) extends existing cruise control systems to include a headway sensor that monitors the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. The system is also sometimes called Active Cruise Control (ACC) or Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC).
Cruise control can help you become more fuel-efficient and can help you save an average of 7-14% on gas thanks to its ability to maintain a continuous speed. In comparison, the constant change in acceleration and deceleration of the driver placing their foot over the pedals can eat more gas.
The cruise control system controls the speed of the car by adjusting the throttle position, so it needs sensors to tell it the speed and throttle position. It also needs to monitor the controls so it can tell what the desired speed is and when to disengage.
What`s the difference between cruise control and speed limiters? Speed limiters are similar to cruise control as they let you set a maximum speed that your car can`t go over. But unlike cruise control, you still need to use the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. Some cars let you manually set a speed limit.
Most of the time this is caused by a bad brake switch. If the switch is shorting out, then it will cause the computer to think that the brakes are being applied, which turns off the cruise control. If the switch is fine, then it may have a bad speed sensor or the cruise control switch itself is bad.
In most vehicles, the buttons that control the cruise control system appears on the steering wheel. You should check your owner`s manual and locate these buttons when the car is not being driven to avoid an accident. After the cruise control system is activated, set the cruise control.
You can always override cruise control by using the vehicle`s pedals: pressing the brake will instantly pause the system and slow the car in exactly the same way as if the system was switched off. Pressing the accelerator will increase the car`s speed.
A bad battery can cause problems in electrical and electronic parts, including the computer. It can even cause a “Check Engine” light.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Honda Civic 2008. AC stopped working suddenly and engine check light came ON for a day.Next day AC worked and no engine light.
ANSWER : Hi there. In both cases, when an AC system is not working and a warning light is coming on the dashboard, typically a professional mechanic will complete the same initial inspection, which is to download the stored error codes that triggered the warning light initially. This tends to give them an idea as to what is causing the problems. This could be something as simple as an electrical relay that is faulty or loose or an indication of a computer related "glitch". Either way, the best way to move forward is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection.
Engine check light on and cruise control not working, but speedometer works
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. Usually the P0717 OBD-II error code is associated with a speed sensor problem inside the transmission. This part helps to monitor the cruise control along with the speedometer. If the sensor is damaged or has a loose fitting wire harness, it will disable the cruise control first as a safety measure; but allow the speedometer to work in many cases. The best way to know for sure is to contact one of our mechanics to replace your speed sensor, or inspect the vehicle for cruise control issues.
My check engine light and traction control lights are on and the cruise control light is flashing on and off.
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
PO341 code – cruise control kicks off, engine light and vsa lights go on.
ANSWER : There could be an issue with the cruise control switch and the brake switch. The VSA light refers to the brake system and the light maybe coming on for the brake switch not functioning properly causing the cruise control switch to disengage. The code P0341 refers to the camshaft position sensor, which could be coming on for the sensor malfunctioning. If the camshaft position sensor is not reading properly, then the cruise control will disengage as the engine is not in time correctly. If you need further assistance with your cruise control disengaging on its own, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Speedometer stopped working, o/d light blinking, check engine light and low tire pressure light are on
ANSWER : All of these problems are most likely linked together by a faulty wheel speed sensor. If the ABS light is on, a fault will be stored pointing to the faulty wheel speed sensor. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have the equipment to pull the fault code and repair the correct wheel speed circuit or replace your wheel speed sensor entirely.
Traction light/reduced engine power and check engine light coming on
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing some sort of intermittent wiring or sensor issue. If the problem occurred again after driving over a bump, then it may be possible that a damaged or loose wire is shorting or having contact issues. A common issue that can cause stalling is a faulty crank position sensor or wiring. I would carefully examine the engine for any loose or damaged wires. If the Check Engine Light comes back on, I would recommend having the trouble codes scanned before resetting the computer.
Car started to slow down and then the check engine light, battery, and engine oil light came on. What could cause this?
ANSWER : Hi there. It is possible that the battery cable came loose or the wires to the oil pressure sensor has came loose or failed. Check the battery cables and make sure that the terminals are tight and clean. Check the wires to the oil pressure sensor and make sure that they are connected and not broken. If everything looks good, then the oil pressure sensor may have failed. Plus, check the computer for codes and see what is stored. This will lead you to the part that could have failed. I recommend replacing the oil pressure sensor then checking to see if the lights will go out. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you with the warning lights that came on.
My check engine light came on AND my cruise control light started flashing, same exact time.
ANSWER : Hello. Subaru has designed their vehicles to turn on the cruise control light when their is a problem with the power train system. This keeps you from using the cruise control when there is a problem. If there is a catalytic converter code then it may be a failure in the converter or an issue with an oxygen sensor. Most of the time this is due to the converter, but I always check the oxygen sensor readings first. If you would like to have this Check Engine Light and catalytic converter issue checked, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
